New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A3496: Minority- & women-owned businesses-increase awarding of contracts
Status: Passed one chamber, September 28, 2026
Requires State agencies to make good faith effort to increase awarding of contracts procured without advertisement to minority- and women-owned businesses.
What the bill says
An Act concerning certain State contract requirements, and amending R.S.52:25-23 and P.L.1954, c.48.
From the introduced text, January 13, 2026:
An Act concerning certain State contract requirements, and amending R.S.52:25-23 and P.L.1954, c.48. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. R.S.52:25-23 is amended to read as follows: 52:25-23. The Director of the Division of Purchase and Property may, by written order, delegate purchasing authority to the using agencies for purchases or contracts not in excess of $150,000 beginning on the effective date of P.L.2021, c.412, $200,000 beginning on January 1, 2023, and $250,000 beginning on January 1, 2024 and thereafter; except that: a. Purchases or contracts shall not be divided to circumvent the dollar limit imposed by this section; b. Prior to issuing purchase orders pursuant to this section, a using agency shall verify the existence of funds for the purchase or contract and shall verify that the article or service to be purchased or contracted for is not available under any of the contracts issued by the Division of Purchase and Property; and c. Records of all purchases made or contracts negotiated under this section shall be maintained by the using agency and made available for audit by or under the direction of the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property and shall include proper proof that the purchase or contract was made or negotiated competitively, where competition is …
Sponsors
- Yvonne Lopez (D, 19) · primary sponsor
- Linda S. Carter (D, 22) · primary sponsor
- William W. Spearman (D, 5) · primary sponsor
- Cleopatra G. Tucker (D, 28)
- Shanique Speight (D, 29)
- Rosaura Bagolie (D, 27)
- Luanne M. Peterpaul, Esq. (D, 11)
- Margie Donlon, M.D. (D, 11)
- Katie Brennan (D, 32)
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15)
Latest actions
- : R/S REF SSG
- : PA (58-16-0)
- : REP 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF ACW
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Minority- & women-owned businesses-increase awarding of contracts (September 24, 2026): 58 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee: Reported favorably (June 8, 2026): 4 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: MINORITY AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS, WOMEN, STATE GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
Common questions
- What is A3496?
- A3496 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Minority- & women-owned businesses-increase awarding of contracts.
- What does A3496 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning certain State contract requirements, and amending R.S.52:25-23 and P.L.1954, c.48.
- What is the status of A3496?
- Passed one chamber as of September 28, 2026. Latest action: R/S REF SSG (September 28, 2026).
- Who sponsored A3496?
- Yvonne Lopez (D, 19), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A3496?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A3496
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.